Help! I've Been Conned Into Doing A Job At Work

68lbs

68lbs

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April 2008
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Ok, it seems that my (lack of) photography skills has come out into the public domain at work, and I've been asked to do a job! :suspect:

Ok, no pressure!

It's not for a few weeks yet, but basically we own a number of high end clothing shops and a guy is going to be coming and customising jeans on the premises for one day. Basically, I would imagine he'll be sat at a table (a bit like a book signing event) painting stuff on the back pocket.

My remit is to cover the event for PR purposes.

I sort of have an idea of what to do regarding use of fill flash. But anyone got any other pointers, suggestions, etc. I'm not entirely sure what sort of shots together other than candids of customers in the shop, and obviously pics of the guy with his brush in hand and jeans being painted.

Yikes!

How many 'useable' shots do you think I should be looking to come away with? Will colour temperature be a problem with shop lights and flash?
 
I'd get someone to pose for you beforehand so you can experiment
 
mmcp42 said:
I'd get someone to pose for you beforehand so you can experiment
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exactly what I was going to say. Get yourself to the shop involved and get some test shots in first, to give an idea about kit you will neeed, settings, any issues such as colour balance, and so on.

As for shots, hmmm, depends on what they want really, any chance they have stuff from previous events you can look at? Definately some close ups, maybe using shallow dof for effect, of paint brush on pockets, as well as usual array of the artist, shoppers and so on.
 
Good advice already.

Since it is at your work can you also have some control of the lighting?

Your gear list includes some excellent kit for this sort of job. If you can get a "dry run" in with a proxy then you'll be laughing.

Congratulations by the way and good luck :thumbs:
 
and ask the peep who gave you the project what they are expecting!
 
Yv said:
Get yourself to the shop involved and get some test shots in first
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That sounds like a good plan. Can't believe I missed the obvious! :bang: Like the idea of closeup details too. Thanks Yv.

it's alive said:
Since it is at your work can you also have some control of the lighting?
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Probably not. TBH, it's about 12 months plus since I went to the store, so I think getting my ass up there needs to be the first and (now) obvious job.

mmcp42 said:
and ask the peep who gave you the project what they are expecting!
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Oh, that's a classic... I've heard it on these forums before. "Lee, need you to take some photos. You have a good camera. We were going to get a pro, but *insert feeble excuse*. You will be able to get better pics with your camera."

I asked what the shots are for, the answer is "PR".

Hmmm.
 
How much will you be charging them to use your gear for commercial work?
 
RichardtheSane said:
How much will you be charging them to use your gear for commercial work?
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which takes me on to insurance?
third party?
customer trips over tripod? :rules:
 
Working in a shop with the public present you'll definitely need insurance, you'll need to check your employers insurance covers you while you're off their premises
 
I'd make sure you get plenty of detail shots of the work done (maybe you can take some of these if he gets busy and you have to step back, or even after the event if they're going to be around). You can bank these and even if none of the other shots are useable you've still got some images to use in your PR material.

Some close shots of the work being done and some tight-ish shots of him while he's working.

It's probably worth taking some posed shots of him - maybe not even doing any work but just sat on the edge of a table, slightly turned to camera, making sure you've got a nice representative shot of the shop in the background. Think something that would look good as an insert shot in an article or even as a facing page.

The only others I'd probably aim to get are some group shots of the designer with the store manager and staff (assuming it's for an internal publication) and maybe some shots of the more photogenic customers or staff wearing the jeans.

Do you know what the intended use is? That might push you in certain directions.

As far as white-balance is concerned I'd head down there beforehand and check out the lighting - that should give you a steer on how to gel your flash to get the best colour balance and avoid unwanted casts in the non-flash filled areas.

Good luck! Introduce yourself to the guy don't forget to have some fun too!
 
RichardtheSane said:
How much will you be charging them to use your gear for commercial work?
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If needs be, I'd be given the works 400D and kit lens to use. I'd rather try and do the best I can though, so will use my own gear. I had already decided I will be making it clear that if my gear is damaged, then it is replaced by the company.

mmcp42 said:
which takes me on to insurance? third party? customer trips over tripod? :rules:
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Of this, I have no eye deer. TBH, hadn't planned on using the tripod. One less thing to get lost/stolen. I was hoping to use 2 lenses (one in pocket, one on camera) with flash atop, and that's it.

Am I being niaive?
 
68lbs said:
Of this, I have no eye deer. TBH, hadn't planned on using the tripod. One less thing to get lost/stolen. I was hoping to use 2 lenses (one in pocket, one on camera) with flash atop, and that's it.

Am I being niaive?
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If you've got off-camera flashes then they might make for better portrait-style shots, otherwise hope that the ceiling is nice and white so you can bounce off that.

If it's a nice day (and the store's not in a shopping centre) then you might be able to move your shoot towards the windows and use the big-light coming through.
 
wack61 said:
Working in a shop with the public present you'll definitely need insurance, you'll need to check your employers insurance covers you while you're off their premises
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As my employers own the shop then insurance shouldn't be an issue should it? I am just 'another employee doing a job'. :shrug:
 
68lbs said:
... insurance...
Of this, I have no eye deer. TBH, hadn't planned on using the tripod. One less thing to get lost/stolen. I was hoping to use 2 lenses (one in pocket, one on camera) with flash atop, and that's it.

Am I being niaive?
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yes
customer trips over photographer, his bag, his shadow
insurance is 110% a must, not a maybe

btw I don't blame you for using your own kit - you probably know how to use it :thinking:
 
incapete said:
If it's a nice day (and the store's not in a shopping centre) then you might be able to move your shoot towards the windows and use the big-light coming through.
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Sorry, we're in what them American's call a Mall. Metrocentre in Gateshead to be precise. I think the ceilings are fairly high. We do have some Lencarta heads and stands here but I don't really want to be taking those with me - all manner of leads and things to trip over, and then I'd have to fart about for ages (for me anyways) setting things up.

I think the job is more like if the local paper sent a tog along to cover the event. He'd turn up for ten mins, take a few shots, then b****r off. I'll just stick around longer to give me more chance of getting something 'good', and because it's not often I get out of the office and from behind my computer. :D
 
68lbs said:
Sorry, we're in what them American's call a Mall. Metrocentre in Gateshead to be precise. I think the ceilings are fairly high. We do have some Lencarta heads and stands here but I don't really want to be taking those with me - all manner of leads and things to trip over, and then I'd have to fart about for ages (for me anyways) setting things up.

I think the job is more like if the local paper sent a tog along to cover the event. He'd turn up for ten mins, take a few shots, then b****r off. I'll just stick around longer to give me more chance of getting something 'good', and because it's not often I get out of the office and from behind my computer. :D
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now, you see, I would take the Lencarta heads etc
good chance to practice on someone else's dollar! :naughty:
 
mmcp42 said:
now, you see, I would take the Lencarta heads etc
good chance to practice on someone else's dollar! :naughty:
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Nah! Definitely not an option! Just thinking about that makes my bottom produce funny noises! I am lacking confidence. Take too much gear and they'll expect really pro stuff. You know how people think... it's not the skill of the photographer that produces the quality shots, it's the amount of expensive gear.
 
68lbs said:
I think the job is more like if the local paper sent a tog along to cover the event. He'd turn up for ten mins, take a few shots, then b****r off. I'll just stick around longer to give me more chance of getting something 'good', and because it's not often I get out of the office and from behind my computer. :D
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Fair enough - in that case, my suggestions on shots still stand but you could plan to overpower the ambient with your flash and not worry too much about colour balancing much beyond setting your white balance (or shoot in raw and adjust it later)
 
Get them to pay for a lightstand, brolly, some pocket wizards :D (or a cheaper alternative) and use your strobe.Then you can get some decent lighting in place without looking like you have loads of gear.It's mobile and also lets you play around at home getting the look you want beforehand.
 
While I can't help all that much with the photography side of things, but you might want to check up on how security etc regards photography in the metrocentre itself.

I'm not sure what the rules are on photographing in the actual shops, but it's something you might need to think about nonetheless!

Chris
 
if you had a pair of strobes on stands with triggers in opposite corners of the room doing ceiling bouncing it gives quite even light as you move about

saw it on strobist ages ago I'll hunt for the linky
 
68lbs said:
anyone got any other pointers, suggestions, etc.
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Ok, I'll be the one that states the obvious, then you can all carry on chasing your tails !

Tell your company to stop being cheap lamers and get someone in to do it who knows what they are doing ! For something like this they should expect to pay a local somewhere in the region of £450+ for the day rate, plus licensing, depending on usage and duration.

It is both unfair and unreasonable for them to con you into doing this. You know little about lighting, less about the mechanics of the process, bogger all about the legals, nowt about licensing/rights ...

However, I admire your baws in wanting to have a crack at it ;)

I would chose to do this job after hours when Joe public isn't around so if the principle isn't local you might want to ask your co. to put them up for the night in a hotel. Find out in advance what the principle will be doing and how they do it. That will influence how you do your thing. You ought to aim for everything to be set up one hour before the principle arrives and spend no more than 40 mins doing the actual photography. After that you'll all be bored witless. If you intend to do more photography, have a plan and (maybe) a story board have regular breaks and someone to go out for low carb food and water.

I would use ambient light and a tripod with perhaps one large zipdisc reflector and one fill in flash, maybe with a shoot through brolly/inexpensive diffuser. You will have access to the shop light switches, make use of that access. If there's a grid dimmer, use it, if not, remove bulbs as and where you need to. Less is more.

Get in the shop a week before late on to try out a few scenarios and don't be afraid of ordering someone (not you, never you) to move anything into or out of position. You are building a set, remember.

You might want to hire in a 180L macro and get in close .. you might be happy to do it with a nifty fifty... so much to think of ...

Good luck have a good weekend (that'll be £150 for the consultation)
 
dontcha hate it when people sit on the fence
wish they'd just come out and say what they mean! :naughty:
 
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